Birgunj. The government’s provision of 35 per cent discount while registering new small and cottage industries owned by women entrepreneurs has increased attraction towards women entrepreneurship in the district. According to the Cottage and Small Industries Office, Birgunj, the number of women entrepreneurs establishing new industries has been increasing in recent years.

According to Pawan Panjiyar, chief industry officer at the Office of Cottage and Small Industry, Birgunj, out of 963 new industries registered in the last fiscal year, 363 are women entrepreneurs.

“In the past, women here were very hesitant to open and operate industries in their own name. “However, the number of women entrepreneurs has increased in recent period as the government has given 35 per cent discount on registration of cottage industries in the name of women entrepreneurs and women have also started their own enterprises,” he said, “There has been a significant improvement in the number of women entrepreneurs now as well as opening small and cottage industries.” ’

According to the office, 635 male entrepreneurs have registered new industries in the last fiscal year. According to the office, the newly registered industries in Parsa in the last fiscal year provided employment to 1,737 men and 1,161 women.

Chief Panjiyar said the trend of registering new cottage and small industries as the proprietors of women entrepreneurs has been gradually improving in places like Tarai-Madhes. “Until a decade ago, not many industries were registered with women entrepreneurs. ’